This is a photo of me at the entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing one cold evening a few years ago. Above the archway, on the outside, is the iconic picture of Chairman Mao Zedong that I have seen in magazines and on the news my whole life.

China is full of those incredible moments of recognition.

I named my blog after the “English Corner” tradition in China, where people gather informally to practice their language skills together. I am part of an international business venture for a company in St. Louis, Mo., doing business in China. I speak passable “Mandarin” Chinese language. My focus is higher proficiency in putonghua (Mandarin) and making contacts for international marketing in China.